Halifax Hurricanes add to their Canadian talent with Rouse

Brian Rouse, right, shown as a member of the Saint Mary’s Huskies last season, signed a contract to play for the Halifax Hurricanes of the National Basketball League of Canada on Thursday. (The Chronicle Herald)

The Halifax Hurricanes signed former Saint Mary’s Huskies star Brian Rouse for the upcoming National Basketball League of Canada season on Thursday.

Rouse, a six-foot-four guard from Mississauga, Ont., impressed Hurricanes coach Mike Leslie with his play as an AUS all-star with the Huskies last season.

“I think that Brian is a very athletic player for his size,” said Leslie. “When I saw him play I just thought he would be a better pro player than he was a university player, because he just has the athleticism, the strength and the size to play at a pro level.

“He’s going to learn the pro game playing with a group of veterans that are here, and I thought it was a perfect fit for him to transition from university to pro basketball here in a city that he is familiar with. He also came highly recommended by his (Saint Mary’s) coach Jonah Taussig who spoke very highly of him as a player.”

Rouse is the third Canadian player recently signed by the Hurricanes. Renaldo Dixon and Tyrone Watson re-signed with the team in September and Leslie said the number will grow to five Canadians in the next few days.

Rouse played five seasons with the Huskies and was a member of the league’s all-rookie team in 2011-12 and an all-star in 2015-16 and 2016-2017.

Last season with the Huskies he averaged 15.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.

The roster for the defending Atlantic Conference champions is taking shape with the opening of training camp a month away.

“To have upwards of eight returning players is pretty much unheard of in this league,” said Leslie. “It speaks to a number of things. They were a tight-knit group of players who thought they had something special last year and they want to continue that. It’s reflective of Halifax and the community, and the way they were received last year.”

The Hurricanes will open their season at home against the new team from St. John’s on Nov. 19.